TUTORIAL | STARTING A LAYOUT

Hello everyone! Happy June, I can't believe it's the middle of 2018 already. Today is my son's 10th birthday... and I can't believe he hit the double digits! Time flies so fast! Do you ever wonder how so much time has lapsed when it doesn't seem as if that amount of time actually passed!? Sometimes scrapping has done that to me. Many times, its because I don't know how to start my layout. Today, I'm going to give you some tips on how I've started layouts, in hopes that when you are in the same position, you can give them a try!

Know that there isn’t a single way to start a layout. You will figure out over time how you like to start or what inspires you to create. Start with what you are comfortable with – photos, kit, template, even the title or journaling. Remember to work in the direction you like – from the top layer down, bottom layer up, or a random order to your creations. It doesn’t matter if you like to place the background papers, and then go to frames. If it is working for you – that’s a good thing! Relax and let creativity lead you… you don’t have to conform to a style or template. Scrap how you like. You will like your pages better, and you will scrap faster.

Many people use them, including me, and many people don't. What are they? Templates!!! It's each scrappers choice. When I get stuck, this is a great time saver. I don't have to worry about paper placement, photo placement, or design. It takes the pressure of off the whole layout. Mirjam has some fantastic templates in her store to get you started! If a template has too many layers, but you love the basic design, delete those extra layers. If a template doesn’t have enough layers, add more. Templates are a starting point. It doesn’t matter if you twist, turn, shrink, flip or duplicate – as long as you like what you are creating! Add more, then delete. If you like something on your page, leave it. You can always remove or hide it later.

Take your time, and work toward your goal, but don't stress. If you need a break, take it! Use the gallery as inspiration, product layouts, and product previews have inspired me! It's harder to do in real life than typing it here, but go with the flow!

Like these:

For me, my CT work kinda nudges me to scrap. Most of my layouts are for CT – as the deadlines, schedule, and expectation gets me to scrap. lol! I scrap for my designers, but my pages have to be useful for me too! Sometimes, having a push to get a layout done is an extra push to get scrapping - use challenges - TLP Challenges, Designer Challenges or even Blog Challenges to get your scrapping started.

Most times, I start from the bottom paper and work up into my layers. I usually choose two templates, and work them into my double layout – 12×24. I copy all the layers of each template into my “Working Copy,” and save as I go. Once the templates and layout basics figured out, I jump to photo selection. I try to scrap a certain year, but jump around within that year. This way my pictures work for various kits, and I’m continuously working on my yearly album, If I don’t have the right themed pictures, I look for color. After my pictures are selected, I start with the papers, elements, and all the little extras. I add my shadows after most of my elements are placed. I then add journaling. Next, I settle on my title. Every one my pages have at least something written about the picture, and/or at least the date. After all the details are noted, I save both an album copy and a web copy.

How do you like to scrap!? What tips can you share?
Thanks for reading, and I'd love to hear your side of the topic!

Jenn | jk703